Monday, December 7, 2009

As of Monday, the Charlotte 49ers have raised nearly $4 million toward a $5 million goal to start up a football program in time for the 2013 season. The school's board of trustees is scheduled to hear an update on the football program during its meeting on Friday.

Charlotte has sold 3,203 football seat licenses. With the cost of FSLs ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 each, that equates to about $3.96 million. Charlotte's official FSL marketing campaign ended in September.

The original recommendation by chancellor Philip Dubois to the school's board of trustees called for the sale of 5,000 FSLs at $1,000 apiece to raise $5 million in startup funds.

Although the campaign is over, school officials have continued to operate on the same timetable pending a decision by the board of trustees to the contrary and FSLs can still can be purchased (22 were sold in the last month).

FSLs are a necessary evil. We have to get the cash and this is one way to do it and they way the admin decided to go. Think of it this way - we have 80% of the funds needed in a horrible economy. A good basketball season and a commitment from the school for the 2013 kickoff is very important in sealing the FSL deals. This school needs football and will get football.

The poorly thought out FSL concept definitely could be improved. The biggest problem is selling football tickets 5 years in advance. You have to project where you might be living and what your family and financial circumstances will be be five years from now. It feels more like a donation at this point.